About Cal Skinner

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Monday night Grafton Township Party Central Committee Chairman Tom Poznanski told me that he favored letting the voters decide who the Republican Party candidates for township office would be. This is the third cycle during which partisan candidates have run … Continue reading →

Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore has never given up on the idea that Grafton Township government should run a food pantry. The one run by former Supervisor John Rossi, reportedly organized as a not-for-profit organization in order to obtain food … Continue reading →

The litigation concerning who has what power in Grafton Township has been long and expensive, but also interesting. I’ve discussed how it involves the pitting of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of local government with Linda Moore’s attorney John … Continue reading →

Because of the legal wrangling, the audit that should have been ready last summer has just been completed in draft form. Still holding up finalization is the lack of a reply to a routine letter sent all law firms who … Continue reading →

The Grafton Township Food Pantry was started by former Supervisor Jack Brunschon and continued to operate under his successor John Rossi. During that time it was turned into a not-for-profit entity in order to get better prices on surplus food, … Continue reading →

Township government consists of two parts, the Road District, which was spun off as a separate unit of government by the General Assembly and the rest of township government, usually called the township. The last administration of the Grafton Township … Continue reading →

By being out of the room, I missed what Lake in the Hills Democrat Paula Yensen said at the McHenry County Board on organization day, but did hear Crystal Lake Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt tell fellow board members what she … Continue reading →

As you can see the decision by Judge Michael Caldwell was filed Friday. Lawyers for the two sides received copies of the decision. I believe the judge said he was going to mail them. … Continue reading →

In the Grafton Township separation of powers case filed by Township Supervisor Linda Moore against her Township Trustees, Moore largely won. Judge Caldwell wrote, “What was done here by this board to the supervisor was not a policy but rather … Continue reading →

After listening to five days of testimony in the Grafton Township Separation of Powers case, why does Rodney King’s famous quote come to mind? “Can we all get along?” Obviously, not in Grafton Township. The question is why not? Most … Continue reading →

I’m losing count. Was today the fourth day of testimony in the Grafton Township separation of powers suit? Maybe it was that I arrived by the expected start time, but an argument over a Temporary Restraining Order wanted by the … Continue reading →

I managed to stay awake during the Linda Moore part of the trial today. It didn’t start until shortly after 1 PM because Moore attorney John Nelson wanted a court reporter present. Once in a while some new information popped … Continue reading →

Pete Gonigam’s First Electric Newspaper has been given a scoop about the Grafton Township Trustees ‘ continuing efforts to reverse last year’s election results, which ousted their leader, Supervisor John Rossi. Just one day after being knocked out by Electors … Continue reading →

With over 700 registered voters in attendance, electors at the Annual Town Meeting overwhelmingly refused to follow the script laid out by Ancel Glink partner Keri-Lyn Krafthefer. There were so many people in attendance that the 700 pink ballots designed … Continue reading →

From the last Grafton Township Annual Meeting, it was obvious that Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender was a political ally of the returning Township Trustees, Rob LaPorta, Betty Zirk and Barb Murphy. She was standing and voting with them during … Continue reading →

“Use in case of bad behavior,” is the message written on a paddle with cobwebs running from it in the Northwest Herald in the editorial cartoon displayed most prominently on its web site today. Beneath is the message, “Spare the … Continue reading →

Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer led four members of the Grafton Township Board (Barb Murphy being absent) through a proposed agenda for the Annual Town Meeting on April 13th. A list of the agenda items were not available to the public … Continue reading →

The hearing before Judge Michael Caldwell Tuesday was supposed to be about Moore’s attempt to move phone lines so she could answer them off-site. Friday Judge Thomas Meyer had ordered telephones to be under the control of Grafton Township Attorney … Continue reading →